Branch Lines Around Midhurst Dvd

In the latter half of the 19th century the town of Midhurst in Sussex became one of the lesser known frontier posts between the London & South Western Railway and the London Brighton & South Coast Railway.

Midhurst was the focal point for three separate branch lines, none of which served the town particularly well since they failed to provide the town with a much needed link to London resulting in their early demise.

However each line had an individual character and this is explored and examined in detail.

Although passenger services were withdrawn between Chichester and Midhurst as early as 1935, and from Pulborough to Petersfield via Midhurst in 1955, this programme has a wealth of excellent black and white archive cine film footage from the Southern Railway era and early 1950s depicting the steam operated push and pull rail motor services on the two surviving passenger lines.

Goods trains continued from Pulborough to Midhurst until the 1960s and these are shown in detail.

Colour cine film shows a brake van ride behind steam and includes scenes of shunting at Midhurst, Petworth and Selham.

Also included is a trip working to the aggregate terminal at Lavant on the truncated Chichester line as well as scenes showing special excursion trains run to Midhurst after passenger services ceased.

A brief history, station survey and 'then and now' sequence is complemented by the reminiscences of former railway folk whose fond memories bring colour and charm to life on the Midhurst branches.

Together, this definitive study provides a fascinating insight into a railway backwater that suffered from having the “wrong kind of connections”.

On two dvds.
Narrator: Keith Farr.
In association with Ian Pringle.
All rights reserved: Branch Line Video 2007.

Approx. 90 minutes.

This dvd is being sold on behalf of and with full permission of Branch Line Video.